n.
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English hete, from Old English h ǣ te, h ǣ tu; akin to Old English h ā t hot
Date: before 12th century
1 a (1) : a condition of being hot : WARMTH (2) : a marked or notable degree of hotness b : pathological excessive bodily temperature c : a hot place or situation d (1) : a period of heat (2) : a single complete operation of heating also : the quantity of material so heated e (1) : added energy that causes substances to rise in temperature, fuse, evaporate, expand, or undergo any of various other related changes, that flows to a body by contact with or radiation from bodies at higher temperatures, and that can be produced in a body (as by compression) (2) : the energy associated with the random motions of the molecules, atoms, or smaller structural units of which matter is composed f : appearance, condition, or color of a body as indicating its temperature
2 a : intensity of feeling or reaction : PASSION b : the height or stress of an action or condition <in the heat of battle> c : sexual excitement especially in a female mammal specifically : ESTRUS
3 : a single continuous effort: as a : a single round of a contest (as a race) having two or more rounds for each contestant b : one of several preliminary contests held to eliminate less competent contenders
4 : pungency of flavor
5 a slang (1) : the intensification of law-enforcement activity or investigation (2) : POLICE b : PRESSURE , COERCION c : ABUSE , CRITICISM <took heat for her mistakes>
6 : SMOKE 8
7 slang : GUN 1B
– heat · less \ ' h ē t-l ə s \ adjective
– heat · proof \ - ' prüf \ adjective